Army Brigadier Ed Cartwright reveals terrifying details of ‘hugely successful’ Hantavirus parachute mission

Army Brigadier Ed Cartwright of the 16 Air Assault Brigade has told GB News about the Army’s daring parachute mission to provide urgent healthcare amid a suspected Hantavirus outbreak.

Medics from the airborne unit leapt 8,000ft onto Tristan da Cunha, a volcanic archipelago in the South Atlantic with just 221 residents and no runway.

“It was a hugely successful operation and very much a team effort,” Brigadier Cartwright told The People’s Channel.

On Friday, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed that a British national on the territory was suspected of having contracted the rat-borne virus.

The operation was launched after oxygen reserves on the remote island reached critical levels, making a parachute drop the only viable way to reach the patient in time.

Brigadier Cartwright explained: “There's no airstrip and it's about 7,000 nautical miles away from the UK and about 3,000 nautical miles from the nearest land.

“On Thursday morning, we were given this problem. We looked at it very quickly. We dispatched some soldiers to Brize Norton, where they met up with their RAF colleagues, and it's been a real cross-government effort to get there.”

He also revealed the perilous conditions faced by the parachutists as they delivered essential medical supplies.

“I'm personally especially proud of the parachutists, as you would expect.

“They jumped at 8,000ft above the clouds, pulled their parachutes about 1,000ft below that, went into the clouds with very strong winds, but had to turn against the wind.

“So they're flying into the wind and also not overshooting the island. And then when they emerged from the cloud at about 3,000ft, they could only just see the island.

“They had some very skilful parachuting in order to make sure they landed in the right place.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• British army launches daring parachute mission to treat rat-virus victims on remote island
• Angela Rayner blasts PM with 'last chance' warning and calls for Andy Burnham's return to Parliament
• Police chief demands 'naval blockade' in bid to stop small boat migrants surge from Belgium

“The consequences of getting it wrong are very serious in parachuting. In this instance, they could have gone beyond the island, into the Atlantic,” Brigadier Cartwright added.

Among the brave team landing on the island were “soldiers from the 16 Air Assault Brigade, six of our pathfinders (reconnaissance specialists) were carrying two of our medical staff as passengers.

“We had a surgeon consultant, also a consultant anaesthetist and an ICU nurse.

“I'm certainly very proud of everyone who took part in the operation,” he said.

As for the condition of the Briton on Tristan da Cunha, Brigadier Cartwright could not share extensive details.

“The patient now has an additional consultant anaesthetist and ICU nurse there to support him.

“This is as well as a great deal of stores that are there with medical equipment.

“So, in a better place than yesterday, I think, is a fair summary,” he said.